Jurors side with college

Jurors on Monday ruled against a former Colorado College professor who claimed he was improperly fired.

Kevin O’Connor, a former Spanish professor, sued the college after he was fired in 2005. He sought damages for lost wages and future earnings, as well as punitive damages.

The seven jurors, who reached a verdict Monday morning after about four hours of deliberation, denied his claims for any compensation.

They began deliberating late Friday afternoon after a three-week trial to determine if the long-time professor was wrongfully fired for exercising what he called academic freedom.

“Colorado College is gratified with the jury’s verdict,” President Richard Celeste said in a statement. “We are pleased that the trial showed beyond a doubt that the college treated Mr. O’Connor fairly.”

O’Connor had charged he was fired after going public about what he said was inadequate asbestos remediation on campus and after he refused to recruit students for what he considered an inferior study-abroad program.

Celeste said after the verdicts were read that college officials have worked diligently with both state and local officials to take care of asbestos issues.

“Health and safety issues are important to us,” he said.

O’Connor said he’s looking at a possible appeal.

“Those who care about CC can’t take comfort with these verdicts that were reached with a massive cover-up,” O’Connor said. “Documents were withheld from the jury.”

He hoped taking the case to trial would raise public awareness about some of the issues.

“I suspect this case will prove to be a wakeup call for professors,” O’Connor said. “Those running institutions like CC are prepared to sacrifice the principles they say they stand for, for monetary gain.”

O’Connor, a 19-year professor, is the only tenured professor to be terminated in the 133-year history of the private, liberal arts Colorado Springs college.

Celeste and other officials testified O’Connor was fired because of his “deliberate disregard of his duty” to direct the study-abroad program in Mexico.